Super Bowl Increases Faith-Based Activity
In contrast to last year's Super Bowl, the National Football League is including more faith-based activity for a more family-oriented event this year.
In contrast to last year's Super Bowl, the National Football League is including more faith-based activity for a more family-oriented event this year.
As the New England Patriots face off the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, prayer services, athlete testimonies and outreach in Jacksonville, Fla. will take place before the game.
NFL events for this week also include the sixth annual Super Bowl Gospel Concert at a local Baptist church and the annual Athletes in Action breakfast to honor Christian NFL athletes.
After last year's halftime show incident, NFL officials have said that they will change their policies, people and processes this year.
"There are a lot of faith-based ministries here in Jacksonville and we wanted to represent that,” said Jacksonville Host Committee director of volunteers Solona Johnson. "We feel there is a place for every person and every mission at the Super Bowl."
There were no objections to the increase in faith-based activities by the NFL as long as they were inclusive and open to a wide audience, said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy to the Baptist Press.
During the first official Super Bowl, the Bridges of Peace Interfaith Experience and a prayer service united more than 1,000 Christians in the community. A Super March for Jesus also drew in thousands of people for a prayer walk to the site of the Super Bowl.
